Ernest HARPER

Ernie Harper was a three-time Olympian and one of Britain's greatest distance runners. Surprisingly, he never actually won a marathon race. On the track, Harper won the AAA 10 miles title four times (1923, 1926-27, 1929) and was the Northern Counties champion six times (1923, 1925-26, 1928-30) and he set world records for 25 km. in 1929 and two hours in 1933. He also finished second the 6 miles at the 1930 British Empire Games. He also excelled as a cross-country runner, representing England for nine successive year (1923-31) in the International championship. He won the English title in 1927 and 1929 and was International Champion in 1926. Harper turned professional in 1939. In his later years he lived with his married daughter, who had settled in Australia.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 15:35.0 (1926); 10000 – 31:58.0 (1924); 10 miles – 52:04.2 (1926), 20K – 1-06:30.3 (1929); 25K – 1-23:45.8 (1929); 2 hours – 33,653 metres (20 miles, 1,604 yds.); Mar – 2-31:23.2 (1936).